title: Health networks: actors, professional relationships, and controversies.
abstract: In recent years international policies have aimed to stimulate the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the field of health care. Belgium has also been affected by these developments and, for example, health electronic regional networks ("HNs") are established. Thanks to a qualitative case study we have explored the implementation of such innovations (HN) to better understand how health professionals collaborate through the HN and how the HN affect their relationships. Within the HNs studied a common good unites the actors: the continuity of care for a better quality of care. However behind this objective of continuity of care other individual motivations emerge. Some controversies need also to be resolved in order to achieve cooperative relationships. HNs have notably to take national developments into account. These developments raise the question of the control of medical knowledge and medical practice. Professional issues, and not only practical changes, are involved in these innovations.
authors.affiliation: Health Systems Research - Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. caroline.artoisenet@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Artoisenet
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Closon
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006282:Health Personnel; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011787:Quality of Health Care